I was simultaneously thrilled by Evan Wilder's "gotcha" moment in the accompanying video and dismayed that it's come to this. It's sad that as cyclists the burden of proof is always on us despite our vulnerability. Sure, it would be nice to be able to ride around without a camera strapped to your head, but at this rate it's only a matter of time before nobody will take you seriously unless you're wearing a helment, full body armor, and cameras covering a 360-degree panorama like you're filming an undersea documentary directed by James Cameron. And even recumbent riders aren't immune:

Gary Souza, a cyclist in Sacramento, said something like that happened to him. He wears a camera on his helmet during his 50-minute commute each way between his home and office. He began riding with the device this year after buying a $7,000 velomobile, a three-wheeled recumbent cycle with a shell around it.

“Even though it’s insured, if anything happens I figured I wanted to get it on camera,” said Mr. Souza, who works in information technology for the state of California.

A couple of months ago, Mr. Souza said, a motorist became upset after the cyclist crossed in front of his vehicle to make a turn. The driver got out of his car to confront Mr. Souza, who pointed to the camera on his head.

By the way, here is a velomobile:

Just imagine the motorist's horror when Future Man climbed out of his Intergalactic Space Suppository and pointed to the camera on his head. I'm sure the last thing the driver thought was that the device was a camera, and instead he probably assumed it was a freeze ray that would incapacitate him while this strange cosmic explorer administered an anal probe and then brought him back to the mothership for further invasive testing.

It's bad enough we've reached the point that if a ride isn't documented digitally it didn't happen. Now, we're on the cusp of a new age in which if the ride wasn't documented digitally then the cyclist is guilty.

And now, I'm pleased to present you with a quiz. As always, study the item, think, and click on your answer. If you're right then you'll cheer heartily and $1,000 will be automatically debited from your bank account and transferred to the charity of your choice, and if you're wrong then you'll see something HILARIOUS!

Thanks very much for reading, ride safe, and read safely.

--Wildcat Rock Machine

(The Schlecks looking wasted after yet another all-night pee-pee party.)

1) Andy and Fränk Schleck may have finally committed the ultimate act of career suicide by:

7) In a stroke of marketing genius, the promotional video for the FlexLine hydration system consists entirely of a large-breasted woman jogging on a desert road and suckling on a snorkel full of water for 45 minutes.

That cop video is fantastic. Incredibly pathetic, that copper should be booted right away; abuse of power for a fellow citizen speaking to him, albeit tersely, in passing; what's he gonna do in a dangerous situation, without any capacity for discernment / starting from an already corrupt base.

I used to be a big supporter of the police, but now at over 50 years old, most of my experience with them has been like this one - slightly tarnished power-mad bullies.

"...instead he probably assumed it was a freeze ray that would incapacitate him while this strange cosmic explorer administered an anal probe and then brought him back to the mothership for further invasive testing."

Was almost impressed by that kickstarter until I saw he wanted to build himself a telescope to schlepp around in his cargo bike, and not, as I had imagined, develop some kind of detachable top tube system which could be unfurled to expose full infra-red array, digital mount and emission nebula analysis software.Still, it's only a matter of time, right?

The goog thing about a camera wearing bicyclist is, that in that rare event the cyclist is in the wrong (eg running into parked cars due to concentrating on a bike computer), the cyclist probably won't be able to erase the damning evidence. Well maybe, if he or she is wearing a helmet.

Those cops should wear helment cams so when they're noselessly riding no-hands through red lights and crash and their firearm discharges it'll all be caught on camera.

Did that actual helment-cam footage help? It didn't seem to capture much in the way of license plates and drivers in a couple of those incidents. Just do what the cops do, pack heat. Conceal, Carry & Ride, that's what I say.

why the hell is a glorified 11 mile commuter path in copenhagen (excuse me, "bike superhighway") actual news? Metro Boston has a 14+ mile path (uh "bike interstate") that's been in use for the past 20 years by 1,000s of old dudes on recumbents. The commonwealth is even planning a 140 mile bike path (er, super-mega-skyway) that leads from the lesbian settlement in northhampton all the way to the lesbian capital in Davis Square.

Sponsored Linkway:

About Me

While I love cycling and embrace it in all its forms, I'm also extremely critical. So I present to you my venting for your amusement and betterment. No offense meant to the critiqued. Always keep riding!